Earlier this year I had an arm lift and hand rejuvenation. Now I have had my ears done. The saying used to be that you could tell a woman’s age by her hands. Then it was at her neck. Then her arms. Ears are also a ‘tell’, but that no longer has to be the case.
Most of us focus on the face and body. Hardly anyone thinks about their ears – until we notice that our earlobes have seen better days. Usually this happens after you see someone with earrings that dangle precariously from thin lobes that have flattened and become elongated and wrinkly. Then you look in the mirror and see that yours are going the same way.
If you’re in despair because your earlobes no longer look as young and fresh as they used to, and even your prettiest earrings only serve to draw attention to them, then help is at hand. Let us introduce ourselves: the ear job.
Earlobes 101
Maybe you haven’t thought much about earlobe aging. I did that, but as an aesthetic consultant for almost 40 years, it fits the area.
Here’s the science: Unlike almost every other part of the face, earlobes have no muscles or bones underneath. They consist of skin, connective tissue and a small fat pad – nothing more. It is precisely this architecture that makes it so vulnerable to the ravages of time. And internal changes begin long before they become visible on the outside.
Heavy earrings are often the first contributing factor. When worn regularly for years, their weight gradually pulls the lobe downward, stretching it in ways nature never intended.
Cindy Jackson, who recently underwent a procedure called earlobe rejuvenation, or the ear job as she calls it
But down-stretched ears are just the beginning. The real competition will come later. Over time, the earlobe loses fat, along with the collagen and elastin that once gave it firmness – and the underlying support is gone. The poor lobe becomes a shadow of its former self. Even a smaller stud earring cannot sit properly on the earlobe without support. Instead, it tilts forward, sits at an unintended angle, or slides toward the front of a lobe that has lost the structure needed to keep it upright.
I keep an eye on all things anti-aging, both in the industry and on my own face and body, and leave no stone unturned when it comes to keeping all my body parts looking roughly the same age. When I realized my earlobes looked older than the rest of me, I wasted no time in getting them ready; they had become thinner, flattened, lost volume and developed wrinkles. As you might expect, instead of sitting like they used to, my earrings started hanging forward due to a lack of support.
My ears started looking old, and once you see it, you can’t unsee it.
How to fix it
The procedure is called earlobe rejuvenation – although I prefer Ear Job – and essentially involves injecting hyaluronic acid filler directly into the earlobe.
This is the same substance that is routinely used in facial rejuvenation: hyaluronic acid occurs naturally in the body, which is exactly why it carries a low risk of reaction and why it has remained a trusted option in injectable treatments for years.
The filler fulfills two functions at once. First, it restores the volume of the lobe, rebuilding the structure and cushioning that earrings need to sit correctly in their holes. The same applies to clip-ons, which demonstrably need even more cushioning for sufficient grip. No one wants a clip-on ending up in their soup.
Second, the filler softens the wrinkles and folds that form on the surface of the lobe as it thins, creating a more youthful appearance.
Cindy’s earlobe before treatment. Thin and wrinkly, the earring dangles forward under its own weight
The injection itself only takes a few minutes. Most practitioners apply a topical numbing cream beforehand, and the filler often contains lidocaine for added comfort. I found it less painful than having my ears pierced.
Ear improvement requires no downtime. There may be temporary mild swelling, but that was not the case with me. And it lasts.
Most fillers have a lifespan that depends on how much the treated area moves. Lips and cheeks, for example, are in almost constant motion, and that constant activity brings richer blood flow to the area, which seems to speed up the natural enzymatic process by which the body breaks down hyaluronic acid.
Earlobes have a clear advantage in this regard: they hardly move. That lack of movement allows the filler to retain its shape significantly longer than elsewhere. Often it takes well over a year before a side effect is needed, requiring fewer clinic visits. What’s not to love?
Are you a candidate?
If you’re over 30 and have regularly worn heavy earrings for a significant portion of your adult life, chances are the process of lobes drooping has already begun. If you are over 50, even if you don’t wear earrings, age alone can cause volume loss and wrinkling. Candidates for Ear Jobs are those who, for whatever reason, notice thinning, drooping, wrinkly earlobes – with or without stretched piercings, and with or without earrings that no longer fit as they once did. (I’m aware that this sounds like the ultimate first world problem.)
Cindy’s earlobe after treatment. Full, well supported, sitting as nature intended – 30 years ago
It is also worth noting that Ear Jobs work naturally with other procedures. Earlobe filler, in addition to facial rejuvenation, tends to produce one cohesive, harmonious result. No one wants a beautifully rejuvenated face with drooping old ears on either side, and vice versa. Consistency is key.
How much does it cost?
Depending on the supplier, location and the amount of filler required, this can vary considerably – from € 250.
This is a simple procedure, although simple should not be considered foolproof. As with any injectable treatment, the doctor is as important as the product. Specific experience in earlobe treatment is required, along with an understanding of the tissue involved and a policy that focuses on natural results over volume.
For decades I have been saying that anti-aging procedures, when done correctly, make you look naturally younger and not “done.” They also have to take the big picture into account. Earlobes are a great example of how one small, easily overlooked detail can undermine everything else you’ve invested in. You can also look beautifully presented, with well-maintained skin, a youthful face (natural or not) and an elegant wardrobe – only if you have a pair of drooping earlobes that let the sides hang down.
By now I suspect that everyone reading this has inspected their own earlobes. Take a look at my before and after photos. Before: thin and wrinkled, the earring fell forward under its own weight. Then: full, well supported, sitting as nature intended – 30 years ago.
That comparison applies to the entire procedure. No exaggeration necessary – just tissue that has regained lost volume.
For information about Cindy Jackson and her consulting firm, visit cindyjackson.com
